Bakesale Betty

This bakery is my absolute favorite place for a bite to eat or to pick up dinner and dessert. They have the best fried chicken sandwich packed with homemade spicy coleslaw. Their chicken pot pie is the best value around. The large pie will easily serve a family of six. It is chucked full for savory pieces of chicken with a great gravy and topped with a delicate and sweet pastry crust.I am also in love with their strawberry shortcake. The biscuit is just right, layered with tons of the freshest strawberries alongside a huge dollop of sweet cream. Yummm.Allison and Michael are a true geniuses! They are Oakland's jewel.

Okay.. you gotta hand it to Betty... she pulls it off with this fun quirky little corner bakery at the busy intersection of 51st and Telegraph. The sidewalk is lined with .... ironing boards, yes, you read that right -- ironing boards -- each occupied by patrons using them as tables happily munching away on their fried chicken tenderloin sandwiches stuffed with tangy jalapeno laden slaw on a soft and sweet sandwhich roll, humongous cookies, and sweet and tangy lemon slushees.

Betty's has a limited menu including a few sandwhiches and about 5 or 6 different cookies and a few scones. You can also get whole take-and-bake pot pies as well as dessert pies. The ginger cookie is one of my favorites, but it's hard to choose between that and the pecan shortbread (that's solved by getting both).

PROS: Fantastic, fresh, homemade quality food.
CONS: Can't really think of any other than it can get a bit crowded, but they usually hand out free cookies to make up for that :-)

The ginger cookies are spectacular. The fried chicken sandwich is pretty tasty. The strawberry shortcake: layers of cream, shocking amounts of fresh macerated strawberries. There's cake somewhere in there. But it's really about having just gobs of strawberries with fresh whipped cream...and a little bit of cake.

I love this place. Betty's cookies, especially the ginger ones are amazing and you cannot eat one!!! The scones are great and this is a great neighborhood place to take out of town guests. Especially if you see Betty and her blue wig.

Only 1-2 sandwiches types a day-but totally off the hook. Mmm fried chicken sandwich. The baked goods are truly amazing. Great atmosphere, lovely service. I believe the owner is a former chez panisse chef? YUMMY LOVE